Is my GPU Failing?

Hello,

I have an Alienware Mx17R3 that uses an AMD Radeon HD 6900m series GPU

Tonight as I was simply online my screen did a weird flash of scrambled imagery. Much like when a video cable is messed around with on a TV. Then all of a sudden things went screwy with the screen just going nuts until it stabilized on my desktop only 1/4 of the screen was misplaced/aligned. As if it was cut in half. I did a restart and things seemed okay until the screen went blue as if it lost a signal.

I did all my Alienware system tests and everything seems fine, no errors came up. Like others I've had the issue where my graphics card won't show in the boot screen coming up "not detected." I've done the pull the battery and hold the power button for 30sec thing and it usually works.

Right now I've rebooted and things seem okay...


Though should I worry that the GPU is failing or is it "loose" as I've read can also be an issue? or this is related to the switchable graphics option that is also known to cause issues?

Any help would be appreciated...kinda hard to seriously work on anything or even play a game thinking the GPU is gonna freak out and fail.

 

Sounds like its failing or something. Not sure why though.

 

I've had monitors do that when they went out also. Maybe try an external one and see if you can find something.

 

How bought trying to reseat your gpu?

 

UPDATE...

Well I booted up normally and got into windows. Then I let my computer just stay on for an hour or so to see if anything would happen. Nothing did until I opened firefox and then BAM into a blue screen you get from a dead video signal not windows. I've run windows startup repair and now I don't get a signal at all...windows loads then I get a black screen. Can't tell what is going on .

How would I boot bypassing the GPU and use integrated?

If the monitor is the issue how can I go to another screen if I can't access the windows screen resolution and management properties? Can I force it to boot on another screen?

lastly...how can I reseat the graphics card if it is indeed the problem?

 

Reseating the gpu is taking it out of its mxm slot and just outing in back in. The documentation is in the dell owners manual for your product. Also your asking about using only integrated well the only way to do this would be getting an unlocked bios. ( yes there is Optimus but using only the integrated card is tricky ) but I would try reseating your gpu first. Follow the instructions in your owners manual on how to take out your gpu then once that is done you might consider recasting and then just follow the steps in reverse and you should be god to go if the gpu was per say " loose "

 

You should be able to boot into safe mode by spamming f8 at the bios screen. Then un-install your graphics card drivers, reinstall them and see if that resolves the issues.

 

If it does it's just a simple corruption of the drivers. But with it occurring when the graphics card is called upon we are sure that it is in fact an issue with the graphics card, just not sure if its hardware or software.

 

Try installing the new 13.8 beta. I had issues recently with artifacts which occured randomly, reinstalling the latest drivers fixed the issues.

Just ensure you wipe the remaining files after the uninstall in safemode with the application "Driversweeper" As when you uninstall and reinstall drivers with any application, they tend to leave traces of files remaining which may conflict with other drivers.

Unfortunately AMD will always be a buggy company.

Good luck.

 

The buggy part is there drivers do get "hung" in the system alot :\

 

Update: I'm going to be trying the many suggestions listed here. I do hope it is a driver issue though it seems trying to install them from safe mode is not possible. Which is bizarre.

Currently the system goes to a black screen after the windows loading screen. Normally what happens is it goes black for a second or so then kicks to the login screen. My guess is that's when the gpu is suppose to come online.

I've been reading up more on the issue and some say the issue is with the stock thermal pads "burning out" so to speak. Whatever the case I've kept up with my warranty so I do hope if all else fails I simply get a replacement.

A bit annoyed Dell locks so much of the bios and that the integrated graphics won't kick in. At least then I could access the system outside of safe mode.

Thanks for the help so far!

 

So the system will not go unto windows with amd drivers uninstalled, and after a use of driver sweeper?

 

Apparently what was occurring is system was booting into the gpu which is sending no video signal at all to the screen (even an external one.) So I would only get as far as the windows is loading screen then after that go into black.

What I had to do was boot into safe mode, disable the gpu, and thus allow me to login and get back into my system using the integrated graphics.

From here I tried everything from re-installing drivers and all the things suggested above. Took a while but each and every time the gpu was enabled again or drivers kicked in...the screen went black. So I have to assume the gpu is dead. I did take it out to reseat it and nothing looked damaged offhand but my guess is something more internal got messed up.

A shame as the system was working fine just a day or so ago testing a few games out. Weird it would decide to just die doing something mundane like browsing.

I will update this after I talk to dell and see what happens. Hopefully I get a replacement quick. Cause right now I essentially have a glorified netbook really.

 

Well the graphics card is obviously "working" due to the windows logo actually appearing .. However since new drivers can't be installed .. It's unclear if the hardware or software is to blame.

 

Normally what happens is the windows loading screen with black background comes up...then the screen momentarily goes black, then I can see the mouse icon before the login screen displays. It's during that little moment of black that the gpu seems to kick properly. Windows is loading fine and the moment I install the drivers for the gpu...the screen goes black. I did this when i was logged in using the integrated graphics. The minute I installed the gpu drivers the screen went black and I couldn't see anything even though windows was still running right. It's a bit annoying Dell doesn't update their drivers cause regardless of new hardware I'm still stuck using the same drivers.

 

try using some newer drivers, but shut off the igpu just to install them? If you have the newest bios you should be able to do this.

 

I'm hesitant to update the bios at the moment since I don't want to cause MORE problems that may come with doing so. However I'm aware that I may have to do that regardless in the end. My only issue is, even if I update to the new official Bios - are there any newer drivers even available from Dell? I know there are unofficial ones. Would the official AMD ones work with the updated bios?

 

UPDATE

Well it seems my system is no longer under warranty. As to why, that's a whole other annoying issue to contend with.

Anyhow it's pretty much determined the GPU is dead which is like having a Ferrari with no engine. So my question now is...


Has anyone been able to purchase a new GPU from Dell or a reliable 3rd party? I don't really trust ebay for this though I know some swear by it.

 

Ebay or here on the members market, dell tend to be a little expensive but you can be sure with them what you are getting.

I use ebay for myself personally.

 

Can you maybe be more specific about the warranty issue?

 

I'm on the 12.8 beta drivers right now. After you install the default dell one you should be able to use pretty much whichever driver you want. No BSOD's for me on windows 8 at least.

 

Still sorting the specifics as to what went wrong. It seems one dept. said it was under warranty, another said it wasn't and could no longer be. At this point I'm wondering if when I order the new gpu from them if the part itself is under warranty. Cause it's ridiculous to pay and repay such a premium price for such a key component. I don't want to be doing this again in 6 months or a year.

After reading through all the issues people have ... can't say I'd make this sort of purchase again.

 

UPDATE - I'm using the integrated graphic at the moment. Performance is of course limited but today, for less than a second I noticed an odd stuttering, the kind that made me first worry about the GPU. I've had the system on for hours the last few days and this is the first time something like this happened with thee integrated card. Should I just fault this to the quality of the integrated drivers?

How smart would it be to do a factory reset, a clean one, and see if this helps alleviate any lingering issues that may be occurring due to the faulty GPU? I mean I had to do some pretty sudden shutdowns while trying to figure out the initial failings.

 

Could be a number of issues, but a clean install might help.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

 

I'm going to attempt that once I have a stable GPU put in as the last thing I want is for my screen to go black during a critical step.

UPDATE: Well Dell/Alienware hasn't been too helpful in terms of getting a replacement GPU. Seems they have none in stock or even an upgrade. The guy i talked to was...less than ideal...suggesting I purchase a used card from a 3rd party site that seems sketchy. he even said they were easy to find on Amazon which was kind of annoying to hear. So at the moment I'm waiting till the end of the month as they MAY get GPU's in stock. Of course none of this is ideal as the potential of being stuck with a system no more powerful than Dell's cheap laptops is annoying.

I couldn't get much of a clear answer as to what kind of help I CAN get...but we'll see as I'm still dealing with Dell about a warranty issue. Not really sure I have any realistic options outside of ebay.

 

On dells warranty checker what does it say with your service tag? What was the end date on your warranty?

 

The situation is the person who took my order to renew the warranty wasn't suppose to until the system was re-certified and was in working condition. So it was a dept. error and while in the system it says I have a warranty, they will not honor it. I'm still trying to sort this out...as the dept. that handles this is different than the one that handles Alienware issues...even though they keep bouncing me back.

Needless to say I'm regretting not buying a mac since at least I'd have a physical place to go to sort this out...or yell at

 

I hear ya .. I was having a few issues with my Mac and I went in store and they got one of the shelf and have me a new one . Alienware support sucks.